Jane, you were a diamond

St Peter's Church resounded with tributes yesterday as hundreds of people packed the thanksgiving service for Jane, who was found strangled in April.

Her wicker coffin, decorated with lilies, was followed into the church by Jane's mother Liz, arm-in-arm with Jane's partner Malcolm Sentance. Her sister Sue Barnett was close behind.

The eulogy was given by Andy Sherwood, conductor of Musicians of All Saints, Lewes, for whom Jane regularly played.

He said he felt inadequate to express his admiration for Jane but intensely grateful for the opportunity to try.

"I remember Jane as a multi-faceted person, a diamond with multi-facets who sparkled from all the angles."

His particular angle was music, something in which she excelled and which she loved. "She brought to music something more than just notes."

She played brilliantly but was always modest. She was an infectious person who enjoyed things so much.

He said: "She loved people and she loved young people. She was a genuinely fine teacher."

He recounted an evening of "pizza and gin" when Jane learned to play the Last Post on the trumpet.

She telephoned friends and left renditions on their voice mail messaging machines, "sometimes finding it very hard to continue for sheer laughter".

He said Jane's death was sad, a "terrible stealing of life" but he was sure she would not want the congregation to go away sad.

"Jane packed in a lot into her short life and she will leave us with a lot of good memories. The memory of her joy, love of life and in-your-face commitment will continue to be an inspiration to all of us lucky enough to have known her."

Uplands School, where Jane taught special needs children, was closed for the day and many pupils, parents and colleagues were among the congregation.

Father David Biggs, priest-in-charge, asked for a moment of quiet before the service began, to "be aware of the loss and sadness all around you".

"On behalf of Jane's family I welcome you into Brighton's parish church and through it we give thanks to God for Jane's life, love, her creativity and music.

"In the days since Jane's death, many have found human vocabulary difficult or impossible to express our feelings to Liz, Sue, Malcolm and ourselves, the depth of loss felt."

Fr Biggs led a prayer: "Let us give thanks to God for Jane's life and for our sharing in her life. We thank you for Jane, the years we shared with her, the good we saw in her, the love, kindness and support we received from her."

He read a eulogy written by Jane's partner Malcolm, who said: "I spent four brilliant years with Jane. I feel it was a privilege to have known her and her excellent family.

"I am heartbroken at the untimely loss of a truly great friend, someone whose company I never tired of, someone who was great fun to be with."

He thanked Sussex Police, Jane's family and friends for their support and paid tribute to pupils at Uplands who expressed their sympathy.

"I am sure Jane misses you as much as you miss her. It is simply a tragedy she never had a chance to have children of her own ... she would have made an excellent mother.

"I will for ever miss her laughter, friendship and love."

Paul Atkins, headteacher at Uplands, said: "Jane's death was a tragedy but I ask you not to dwell on this. I want to focus on her life and the impact she had on so many people.

"Look around and see just how many have come to pay their respects.

"You are here because you want to say your farewell to Jane and share the grief. Jane touched every one of our lives."

Mr Atkins told how Jane "knocked us over with her enthusiasm" when she joined Uplands. He spoke of her warm personality and how she was loved by the children.

Mr Atkins said: "She had a passion for music and a passion for teaching."

She was a "risk-taker" who would experiment with all kinds of instruments including, on one occasion, drain pipes and a pair of flip-flops.

Jane once sweet-talked him into parting with £1,400 for a new computer: "I felt I had been mugged but so gently I never felt a thing."

Jane loved school concerts and would always offer an approving and congratulatory smile to the children after each performance.

Jane, he said, had three gifts, her music, teaching and her love: "The planning and drive came from her head but the drive and passion came from her heart."

He recalled the last staff meeting she attended and her "raucous laughter". "At the end of the night Jane went back to the drama class to say goodnight.

"We never saw her again.

"Let us thank God for being able to say 'I had the privilege of knowing Jane in person'. Rest in peace Jane."

Friends from orchestras Jane played in formed a quartet to present some of her favourite music.

It included the second movement from Divertimento no III by Mozart.

The hymn All Things Bright And Beautiful was sung as the coffin was carried from the church.

Rain greeted the mourners at the start of the 100-minute service but bright sunshine beamed into the church as they left.

Among those present were Sussex Police officers including Detective Chief Inspector Steve Dennis, leading the CID inquiry into Jane's death.

The service was followed by private cremation in Brighton.

Jane, 31, disappeared from her home in Shaftesbury Road, Brighton, on March 14 and her burning body was discovered at Wiggonholt Common, near Pulborough, on April 19.

Graham Coutts, 35, a part-time musician, of Waterloo Street, Hove, has been charged with her murder and remanded in custody to appear at Lewes Crown Court on August 1.